UUCSJS Midweek Message

• Minister's Midweek Meditation
• Announcements
• Notes From the Board
• Stewardship Campaign
• Events This Week
• This Sunday
• Call to Action
• Explore Our Monthly Theme
• Connect to Our Faith

Dear friends,

I have been reflecting of late about the war being waged in Ukraine.

Nobody seems to want this war, except for the Russian president. His soldiers have been ordered to go fight unarmed civilians and flatten cities when they believed they were headed out for training exercises. Artillery fire is raining down on residential areas, hospitals, schools, and even nuclear power plants, all of which are crimes against humanity as defined in the Geneva Convention.

The people of Ukraine are fleeing in vast numbers – over two million so far have fled the country in search of refuge in Poland and other neighboring states. The images on the television news and flooding the internet are heartbreaking and horrifying. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been a profile in courage and patriotism, rallying his country into a grassroots resistance that will make the nation ungovernable in the eventual likelihood that the Russian military is able to physically capture the political structure of the place.

Here on the other side of the world, it all seems far away. Ukraine is clear in its pleas for help from the west, but the nations of NATO are reluctant to get into a shooting war with the nuclear-armed madman in Moscow. Ukraine would love to join NATO, but … it’s complicated. Especially now, with Russian troops advancing, however slowly, toward the capital city.

There are so many issues swirling in this conflict: the humanitarian crisis of millions of refugees, the imperialism of the Russian president, the threat of nuclear arms being used for the first time in world history (remember that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were levelled by atomic bombs, the precursor to the nightmarish capacity contained in a nuclear warhead.) At home, gas prices are skyrocketing, not because gas is suddenly scarce, but because the market is scared and fuel companies are raking in outrageous profits supported by that fear. The US gets something like 5% of all its energy needs met by Russian-sourced petroleum. We will not run out of gas any time soon. We will, however, be gouged at the pump until or unless some regulation is enforced.

At any rate, our hearts ache for those in the path of the Russian attack. We pray for those who have fled, and for those who were not able to flee. We pray for the nations of Europe who are rightfully scared of what is happening in the eastern parts of that region. And we pray for those here in the US, who will not have to pay a lot more in fuel prices to get to work and accomplish all the things life requires.

Let us keep all of them in our hearts during this time, and pray for an end to the violence taking place.

Be well, friends,

Rev. DC

Rev. DC is available for pastoral care appointment Wednesday through Friday 10am to 3pm. Email minister@uucsjs.org to schedule an appointment.

Contact a member of the Caring Team

Team members can provide you with support during/after an illness, a death in the family, or other loss or hardship. They can find you resources, run errands, or provide meals in time of need.

Reach out to:

• Tracey Catino at (609) 674-8721 email: Traceysnaps@msn.com
• Denise O'Meara at (610) 316-7495 email: denome53@gmail.com
• Helen Utts at (609) 338-3391 email: HelenUtts@aol.com
• MaryLou DeMaria-Berhang at (201) 247-5635 email: MLberhang@gmail.com
• Tony Zitelli at (201) 463-2800 email: happy85a@aol.com

To have your announcement placed in the Midweek Message, please send an email to admin@uucsjs.org by Noon on Wednesday.

Planning a special event? The Communications Team can help. Visit https://uucsjs.breezechms.com/form/42685e for more information.

Harriet Tubman Museum

https://www.harriettubmanmuseum.org/

Are you interested in learning the local history of American abolitionist and political activist, Harriet Tubman? We are offering an opportunity to explore her history in OUR region by attending a private group tour at the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May, NJ. Located at 632 Lafayette Street in Cape May, NJ the museum opened June, 2020 and offers $10 (per person) tours on weekends.

What we know:

• The trip is planned for Saturday, April 16, 2022
• The private group tour is Limited in Space
• Stay for Lunch and Discussion after the tour
• Deadline for sign-up is Wednesday, March 30, 2022

For more information or to sign up, please contact Colby Tippins at 609-442-0967 or Shelee McIlvaine

If you are a key holder, you will need to know the new procedures for opening and closing the UU Center. Please join Jeff Taylor and Richard Schurig after the service March 13, for a walk-through of the procedures. Contact Barbara Miller with questions.

The Signage Committee has been busy since our Congregational Meeting on Sunday February 27th. I met with Jen Heller, Zoning Officer for the Township of Galloway on Wednesday March 2. I said that we had been working on a new signage proposal for our congregation and had several questions. I said that we were thinking of adding another sign on our frontage on Rt 575. Jen said that we were allowed one sign not to exceed 24 square feet on our frontage. She looked us up on the township map and said that we were also allowed one sign not to exceed 24 square feet on Liebig RD as well since our property bordered both streets. She said that if we wanted to add a second sign to either street, we would need to apply for a variance. I asked Jen what that would entail and she said the congregation would have to put up $1,000,00 for an escrow account. She then said we would need to spend roughly $200-$300 for noticing fees. Jen said that we would need to take out a notice in the local papers and also notify the municipality and county of our impending changes. Jen then went on to say that business’s and church’s then typically hired an engineer or planner to create the renderings of what we intended to do and then also hire an attorney who would speak on our behalf at the municipal zoning meetings. I asked her what she felt a decent estimate of cost would be for what she just detailed and without hesitation she said roughly $5,000.00. She then reminded me that even if we followed this direction, there was no guarantee that the town would approve the additional sign. I then asked Jen if we had to go to the Pineland Commission to get their approval as well and she said as long as our sign was not electronic, we did not need to involve them.

Jen said that if we wanted to make changes to our current sign, we were free to do so as long as we stayed within the zoning regulations. In other words , if we wanted to change the wording on the sign but were not changing the dimensions, we were free to do. She then said that Rt 575 was a county road and we would need to adhere to the county guidelines of rights of way and sight triangles. I advised Jen that we did not have a sign on Liebig Rd. Jen said that if we wanted to add a sign on Liebig, all we would need is to fill out a zoning permit and pay a $50 fee. As long as the sign was within zoning guidelines, ie: not more than 24 square feet and set back 14 feet from the property line, it would be considered a normal request falling under the township zoning guidelines.

The Signage Committee is currently working on several different options that will be presented to the congregation in the next several weeks. Our goal is to provide several options that will generate positive communication that will allow us to bring the most popular options to the next Congregational Meeting.

We know you’ve been missing UU's favorite part of Sunday Services, so we have a plan to get back in the swing of things. Starting in March, you are welcome to bring your favorite beverage, in your favorite travel mug, and join us under the tent on the North lawn and socialize outside after services. Since this is an outdoor activity, masks are encouraged but not required. Hope you will participate.

Book Club will be meeting on Friday, March 18th at 7:00 pm on ZOOM (www.tinyurl.com/uucsjszoom)

We welcome anyone to join in the meeting.

AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins

American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope. It is a literary achievement filled with poignancy, drama and humanity on every page. One of the most important books of our times.

Jesse Connor will be leading the meeting.

April selection

PAPER WIFE by Laila Ibrahim

The author will be joining us for this meeting !!!!

The programs and services we are able to provide each year are made possible through the generous financial support of our members and friends. So each year we have a season of stewardship to receive advance pledges of support from members and friends to help us to plan our programming budget in advance (planning for July 2022 to June 2023). Our stewardship campaign this year will run from March 20th to April 17th. We will host small group gatherings to share what we value about the congregation and what we envision for our the future. Everyone who is part of our covenanted community is invited to participate in one of these conversations. It is the collective generosity of our community that makes UUCSJS possible! More information about the small groups will be coming soon.

~ Karen York, Stewardship Chair

Click on the graphic below or visit the calendar at uucsjs.org for more information on events and meetings.

CLICK HERE to reserve the Zoom Room or to add your event to the calendar.

- Jessica Dunn Safonof, Director of Religious Education

Can a piece of clothing fight climate change, grow sustainable farming practices, raise living conditions in developing nations, fight the stigmas of the women's fashion industry, and build world wide community? Join us to find out.

PLEASE NOTE: This service will be in person at UUCSJS and streamed live on our Facebook page. A recording will be available later in the day on our YouTube Channel.

Currently, we are aware of a need for tutors of English for Afghan refugees. This can be done in person (at a local library) or on zoom. These are folks being served by Catholic Charities, a partner of ours. If you are interested, please provide the following information.

• What time of day/day of the week do you prefer to tutor?
• Where do you live (if you wish to tutor in person.)?
• Do you prefer to tutor in person or via zoom?
• Is there a specific population you prefer to work with?
• Do you speak any language other than English?
• Do you have any teaching experience (of any subject) or experience tutoring ESL? (These are not requirements.)

After we hear from you, we will forward your information to Vincent Mancuso at Catholic Charities Dept of Refugee Resettlement & Immigration. Vincent makes matches between tutors and students. Please contact Deb Dagavarian if you have any questions.

Many thanks to those who contributed to the ESWA appeal for funds to complete the flooring for their much needed Service Center. They are now better able to benefit their low income members!

Volunteer to be a worship associate! Contact Sheila Stoner or Rev. DC today!

All of us know what it's like to lose our faith. We've been betrayed by a relationship, let down by our church community, or convinced that life just won't get better. Our greatest faith can sometimes be the belief that life and others don’t deserve our faith in them.

But sometimes our doubts need to be doubted. Sometimes life and the people around us need to be given a second chance. So this month pick an experience, person or group that you've lost faith in and risk giving it/them another try.

Did the risk paid off? And more importantly, what did it teach you about yourself?

-From Soul Matters

Want some inspiration? Check out this podcast:

Rocked by Doubt, Radiolab

On traveling the tightrope between doubt and certainty, and wondering if there's a way to make yourself at home on that razor's edge between definitely...and not so sure.

Or this video:

Brené Brown: The Anatomy of Trust

Trust is built in the small moments not the grand gestures!

Check out these books and movies about this month's theme, Renewing Faith.

Books

Utopia for Realists: How We Can Build the Ideal World by Rutger Bregman

On renewing our faith in radical social change: “Utopia for Realists is one of those rare books that takes you by surprise and challenges what you think can happen… Universal basic income. A 15-hour workweek. Open borders. Does it sound too good to be true? One of Europe's leading young thinkers shows how we can build an ideal world today.”

Related TED Talk

Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott

“Here Lamott delivers a poignant, funny, and bittersweet primer of faith, as we come to discover what it means to be fully alive.”

The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples by John M. Gottman

Article about the book: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theolder-dad/201303/do-i-trust-you-anymore

Movies

You Will Die at Twenty

First Reformed

Silence

Here you will find ways to learn about and connect with our faith and opportunities to connect with other UU's from outside our congregation.

Click on the images for more information.

Click on the image above to learn more about:

• The UU Institute
• UUA General Assembly
• A Second Slice of Pi: An Online Conference for Smaller Congregations
  
• Jubilee 3 Anti-Racism Training
• Spring for Change in 2022: A Season of Sacred Activism
• Intergenerational Spring Seminar: “Displacement & Human Rights: All in for Climate Justice”
• News from the UUA
• and a full calendar of Central East Region events

Sunday Services 10 am in person and livestreamed on Facebook.

Email: admin@uucsjs.org
Website: www.uucsjs.org
Location: 75 S Pomona Rd, Egg Harbor City, NJ, USA
Phone: (609) 965-9400
Facebook: facebook.com/uucsjs
Twitter: @UUCSJS